Mandel lashes out at Wildrose Alliance for airport comments

The airport debate hit some turbulence on Friday after Mayor Mandel responded to comments made by Wildrose Alliance leader Danielle Smith on the City Centre Airport.

Smith held a press conference at the airport this morning, arguing that Edmontonians should hold a plebiscite to decide the airport's fate.

"We don't believe that city council has done an adequate job of pursuading Edmontonians that this permanent closure makes sense.”

At the end of the newser, Smith signed a petition for 'non-residents' of Edmonton in favour of holding a plebiscite on the issue.

Shortly after the press conference Mayor Mandel fired back, saying the airport is a city matter, and of no concern to an unelected provincial politician.

“For her to talk about democracy when she's not an elected official, and to sign a petition when she's not even a resident of Edmonton.” Mandel said. "I think Edmontonians would be quite concerned that Calgarians would be coming up to tell us how to run our world."

The city voted 10-3 to close the airport and redevelop the land. Mandel says Smith's actions show a lack of understanding of the Municipal Government Act. He also said Smith lacked the "common courtesy" to get in touch with him and discuss the issue.

Smith said during her news conference that an election year is the righ time to get people focused on community issues. "This is the perfect time for us to be having that debate once and for all. And we'll all live with the results."

But Mandel disagrees.

“This is a statement by a party that doesn't even have representation in the City of Edmonton, and it just smacks of political opportunism."

U of A Political Scientist Jim Lightbody is also skeptical of Smith's motive.

"Part of the hypocrisy of the Wildrose is you keep doing plebiscites until you get the results you want." Lightbody told Global News.

Lightbody has been critical of how city hall has delt with civic issues in the past, but in the case of the airport debate he says council has acted responsibly.

"I think some tough questions have to be asked of those who are trying to force a plebiscite." he said "Who funds them? Who are their backers?"